Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
© James C. Hess
That is, until recently, when someone posted a message to the board suggesting that fantasy, science fiction, and horror, in the form of films and movies, are dying a slow death.
Of course such a remark was bound to incite response. It did. Many visitors to the board, otherwise silent, suggested that fantasy, science fiction, and horror, in the form of films and movies, are not dying a slow death, that they are, in fact, doing better than they have ever done since the beginnings of cinema.
This, as one might assume correctly, invoked response from the original poster of the message, who suggested, bluntly, fantasy, science fiction, and horror, in the form of films and movies, ARE dying a slow death, and are dying a slow death for a variety of reasons.
I won't repeat the suggested causes for this purported death. They have, in their own, invoked many a violent and heated reply. So many, in fact, that the administrator of this board has had to shut the board down several times to clear away messages nothing more than spam.
I won't repeat the suggested causes for this purported death because of all the suggested causes posted there is one conspicious by its absence.
Absent until now, that is:
Special effects.
In the form of a movie entitled "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within".
"Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" is, as the title suggests, fantasy. It is science fiction.
And it is horror.
Oh, the horror, the horror.
Much has made of the fact "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" was made entirely on computers. Much will be made of this fact. Especially if it makes money at the box office. Which, given the fare from the Hollywood Machine of late, it will.
Oh, the horror, the horror. ("Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" reportedly cost more than 140 million dollars. If it fails to do well at the box office, watch: The budget numbers will no doubt go down as they did on the dud "Pearl Harbor".)
Now why, one must ask, was so much made of this particular fact? Other films and movies have been made on computers and others will.
There are reasons a'plenty for this hype. One is because "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" is really the first to attempt realistic-looking humans. Look at the space soldier Gray Edwards and ask youself, as you no doubt note the similarity to Ben Affleck: Is it live or is it just Hollywood Memorex?
